Johnson girls won't be denied

By Terrence Thomas :
April 13, 2013
: Updated: April 13, 2013 10:52pm

The Johnson Jaguars show off their prize after defeating Churchill 2-1 on penalty kicks in the Region IV-5A final Saturday. “Churchill definitely gave us a game — toughest game of the year so far,” Johnson senior goalkeeper Morgan Stearns said.

Photo By Michael Miller/Express-News

Johnson's Nia Stallings celebrates with fans after defeating Churchill in the Region IV-5A girls final at the North East Soccer Stadium on Saturday, April 13, 2013. Johnson won 1-1 (2-1 p). MICHAEL MILLER / FOR THE EXPRESS-NEWS

Photo By Michael Miller/Express-News

Johnson's Madelyn Carter, right, heads the ball as Churchill's Rachel Gurinsky defends during game action of the Region IV-5A girls final at the North East Soccer Stadium on Saturday, April 13, 2013. MICHAEL MILLER / FOR THE EXPRESS-NEWS

Photo By Michael Miller/Express-News

Johnson players celebrate after Madelyn Carter scored during game action of the Region IV-5A girls final against Churchill at the North East Soccer Stadium on Saturday, April 13, 2013. MICHAEL MILLER / FOR THE EXPRESS-NEWS

Photo By Michael Miller/Express-News

Johnson's Madelyn Carter scores a goal during game action of the Region IV-5A girls final against Churchill at the North East Soccer Stadium on Saturday, April 13, 2013. MICHAEL MILLER / FOR THE EXPRESS-NEWS

Photo By Michael Miller/Express-News

Johnson's Nia Stallings, left, dribbles against Churchill's Rachel Gurinsky during game action of the Region IV-5A girls final at the North East Soccer Stadium on Saturday, April 13, 2013. MICHAEL MILLER / FOR THE EXPRESS-NEWS

Photo By Michael Miller/Express-News

Churchill players are dejected after losing to Johnson in penalty kicks of the Region IV-5A girls final at the North East Soccer Stadium on Saturday, April 13, 2013. Johnson won 1-1 (2-1 p). MICHAEL MILLER / FOR THE EXPRESS-NEWS

Photo By Michael Miller/Express-News

Johnson players celebrate after defeating Churchill in penalty kicks of the Region IV-5A girls final at the North East Soccer Stadium on Saturday, April 13, 2013. Johnson won 1-1 (2-1 p). MICHAEL MILLER / FOR THE EXPRESS-NEWS

For a brief moment, Johnson junior midfielder Caitlin Schwartz said she pondered the worst-case scenario.

For 100 minutes, she had seen too many warning signs that didn't sit well with her. The Jaguars' offense that seemingly scored goals at will during the playoffs found the going tough Saturday. The team's defense, which had yielded little during the postseason, had given up a goal.

And if those weren't enough, three months of work and accomplishments rested on the outcome of a tiebreaking process that is as much about luck as it is about skill.

In the end, Schwartz's momentary panic attack turned into elation when Johnson outlasted Churchill 2-1 on penalty kicks in the Region IV-5A girls final at Blossom Stadium.

The Jaguars won the extra session 2-1, earning their second berth to the Class 5A state tournament in three seasons. They also went in 2011.

“It was a battle,” Johnson senior goalkeeper Morgan Stearns said. “Churchill definitely gave us a game — toughest game of the year so far. We really just gutted it out and knew that no matter what, this was going to be our game.”

Defending regional champion Churchill (20-7-1) didn't make it easy, though. The Chargers led the tiebreaker 1-0 after three shooters when defender Rachel Gurinsky converted her attempt. But they didn't score again.

Johnson evened it at 1-1 when its fourth shooter, Allison Parker, made a crucial conversion. Had she missed, Churchill could have prevailed by making its next attempt.

“It's so much pressure,” Schwartz said of PKs. “The fans are screaming. People say, 'I don't get how you can miss when it's so close.' But it's really hard. It's a mental game when you get up there.”

Adriana Garcia, the Jaguars' final shooter, converted her attempt to clinch the victory.

Churchill, which had won in each of its previous six appearances in the regional finals, battled back from a 1-0 deficit early in the second half to tie it on Hannah Player's goal in the 50th minute.

Madelyn Carter's goal six minutes earlier had given Johnson a 1-0 advantage.

But despite several promising chances, neither team scored during the last 30 minutes of regulation and the 20-minute overtime, forcing the game to be determined by PKs.

“It's definitely tough,” Churchill coach Jennifer Aguilar said after her team's season came to an end with a loss in a shootout for the second straight year. “It's a team sport for 80 minutes or longer, then it comes down to individuals. We prefer the team concept, but I understand that we can't play forever. I'm so proud of the way the kids battled.”